Brandon Twp.- The roads are a challenge seemingly everywhere right now with potholes and ice reigning supreme, but residents can look forward to improvements on two area thoroughfares— one planned for this year, and the other a few years down the literal road.

During their March 3 meeting, the township board unanimously approved two motions regarding roadwork— one that will allow the Michigan Department of Transportation to work overnight in the township while resurfacing M-15, and another that authorizes 2014 Tri-Party funds for a Sashabaw Road paving project.

The first motion grants a variance to the township's noise ordinance for MDOT, allowing work to proceed during the hours of 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. when M-15 is resurfaced between Wolf Road and Oak Hill Road. The exact dates for resurfacing in the township is not yet known, said Supervisor Kathy Thurman. The resurfacing of M-15 will extend into Independence Township, all the way south to Dixie Highway. By working overnight, M-DOT hopes to limit impact to motorists during the peak morning and evening rush hours.

The second motion will allow Thurman to take necessary steps to commit the township's budgeted 2014 Tri-Party funds for a project that will pave Sashabaw Road from Sherwood Road to Granger Road. The motion also moves $15,000 to committed Tri-Party projects.

The Road Commission for Oakland County has $84,670 of Tri-Party funds allocated to spend in the township on road improvement projects. The estimated cost of the Sashabaw paving project is $2 million. Once the project is moved up in the federal funding queue for construction, 80 percent of the project will be covered, with the reminaing 20 percent, $200,000, covered by Tri-Party funding. The estimated cost to the township is $135,000.